Canon, give us full HD video on the 500D!

I'm starting to do amateurish bird videos and I'm frustrated that current popular brands of consumer camcorders just don't have enough reach, and IQ is wanting.

With the Live View implementation on present EOS DSLRs, I believe the hardware is in place to do videos. A 1920x1080 full HD video using the central portion of the 450D sensor is effectively a 3.6x crop factor (if my math is right), giving my 100-400 a video angle of view equivalent to a maximum of 1440 mm (in 35 mm terms)! That's some serious reach with DSLR-like pixel quality, and we're not even talking of TCs or a Sigmonster yet.

To me, it looks like the most cost-effective approach to doing long-range video is to make use of existing DSLR lenses by building in the HDV capability into DSLRs. CF card prices have fallen enough so no worries on storage. Pro-quality long range HDV can be possible with entry-level DSLRs and good long lenses.

Anybody shares the same wish?

Romy

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PHILIPPINE WILD BIRDS
http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone
http://www.romyocon.blogspot.com/
http://birdphotoph.proboards107.com
(Over 250 species captured in habitat, and counting.)